The Week in the Rearview Mirror

The co-chairman of the House select committee investigating UT System Regent Wallace Hall has concluded his actions don't warrant impeachment. In a letter sent to members of the committee, state Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, wrote that Hall's "overbearing, obnoxious attitude and blatant disregard for procedure alone is simply not a reason to impeach."

The Allen Police Association retracted its endorsement of GOP attorney general candidate Ken Paxton, citing the candidate's recent admission that he violated Texas securities law. The action cuts a little deeper because Paxton is the group's hometown senator.

Transparency questions were also raised about Paxton's rival, Dan Branch. A story in the Tribune highlighted Branch's role in killing an amendment in 2003 aimed at forcing lawmakers to disclose when their employer is lobbying the Legislature. Branch's employer, Winstead PC, has a thriving lobby practice.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott unveiled the third plank of his education platform — calling for more resources to support online learning inititatives.

The Empower Texans PAC wrote $100,000 checks each to Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton, who are running for lieutenant governor and attorney general, respectively.

The Democratic nominee for governor in 2006, Chris Bell, endorsed Kinky Friedman in the runoff election for agriculture commissioner. In that 2006 race, Friedman qualified for the general election ballot as an independent. Some Democrats feel Friedman siphoned support from Bell, who apparently is willing to let bygones be bygones.

Bernie Tiede, whose conviction in the killing of 81-year-old Marjorie Nugent inspired a longform piece in Texas Monthly and a movie directed by Richard Linklater, was released on bond and will live in a garage apartment belonging to the director.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Monthly are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. The Winstead Civic Trust was a corporate sponsor of the Tribune in 2010. Richard Linklater is a major donor to the Tribune. Rusty Hardin was a major donor to the Tribune in 2012 and 2013. Winstead PC founder Pete Winstead is a donor to the Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.